Display device



(No Model.) 3 sheets-Sheet 1.

M. G ONNETT. DISPLAY DEVICE.

No. 422,570. Patented Mar. 4, 1890.

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M. P. OONNETT. DISPLAY DEVICE.

No. 422,570. Patented Mar. 4, 1890.

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(No'ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

M. F. CONNETT.

E DISPLAY DEVICE. 7 v No. 422,570. Patented Mar. 4, 1890.

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MATTHEW F. CONNETT, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 422,570, dated March 4,1890.

Application filed September 25,1889. Serial No. 325,051. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IVIATTHEW F. OONNETT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State ofMissouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Display Devices,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to animprovement in display devices of the classwherein a series of curtains is provided each having 011 its face matterto be displayed, (as advertisements, announcements, printed information,patterns, pictures, or the like,) and which, when actuated, causes thecurtains to be successively brought into and removed from the field ofview. r

. The object of my invention is to provide such a device of an improvedconstruction which will enable a comparatively large nu 1nber ofcurtains to be confined and successively displayed in a case of smalldimensions,

, and which shall, furthermore, be readily operative, durable, andthoroughly effective in its operation. V v

As I desire to utilize my improvement more particularly in station orstreet indicators for railway-cars I describe it in connection with adevice for that purpose. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a street orstation indicator provided with my improvements, showing, for purposesof illustration, part of one endof the inclosing-case broken away; Fig.2, a perspective view of one of the curtains and its attachments; Fi 3,a vertical cross-section of the indicator taken just beyond the edges ofthe curtains and looking in the direction of the adjacent end of thedevice; Fig. 4, a similar section taken on a line near the center of thedevice, and Fig. 5 a longitudinal section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig.4.

A is theinclosing-case, having an open face A, which may be fitted witha pane of glass 15 and inclined, as shown, to facilitate inspection ofthe device when it is placed at an elevation. IVithinthe case is aremovable frame, which supports the curtains and the mechanism foractuating and guiding them,

side the guides r.

all as hereinafter described, and which comprises endwalls B, heldtogether in fixed relation by rods or stays s, s, s s s and 8 Upon theopposite innerfaces of the walls 13 are endless guides r r, formingbetween them grooves q of equal width throughout. Toward the top of theframe 13 andsecured at itslateral edges to the rods 8 s, respectively,is a smooth deck at, which extends at opposite ends near but not quiteto the walls B, where it follows the curve of the grooves q ;in a planeabout midway of the sides of the latter. g h

C. O are the curtains, which are of flexible material, rectangular inshape, and allof like size. The upper or, more properly speaking,

the forward edge of each curtain is fastened upon arod p, which projectsto an equal distancebeyond the opposite sides of the cur tain andcarries enlarged end pieces 19, which are preferably just large enoughto fit snugly but loosely into the grooves q; The rods 13 are of theproper length to reach from groove to groove and slide with their endpieces in 'thelatter. The edge of each curtain opposite that secured tothe rod p is fastened to a rod 0 of the same length as the rod 19.

In placing the curtains into operative position they are caused tooverlap each other, as

shownin the drawings, the ends 19' of the rods presting in the grooves gand the rods 0 out- D is a rock-shaft journaled in the opposite walls B,and extending beyond one of the latter, where it carries a crank D. Thecrank D is sectoral in form, comprising arms on m, connected at theirends by a circular cross-piece m, having a groove in its periphery. Aspring Z on the wall B operates to maintain the crank in its normalposition, which is up against a stop Z, also on the wall. Secured to theupper end of the crank is a cord 71:, which extends loosely along Thetop of the tubethe planes of the levers E.

tween the walls B, are rigid levers E, each having a long arm 6 and ashort arm 71.. Each long arm 2' is provided on its free end with a catchin the form of a spring-actuated plunger i, having its end pointed toafford an upturned hook '6 having a convex face or cam on its underside. The short arm h of each lever is provided with a series of eyes itin a-line running longitudinally of the arm.

In rear of the shaft D and extending parallel with it is anotherrock-shaft 1 also journaled in the walls B. The shaft 1 carries towardopposite ends rigid levers F in Each lever F has a long arm g, whichextends downward and has a line of eyes 9' and a short arm f, upon whichis pivoted a catch in the form of an upward-extending spring-actuateddog f having its end f formed with a hook on its under side and acam-face on its upper side. Pivotal links G connect the short arms ofthe levers E with the long arms of the levers F, each link engaging atopposite ends, respectively, with an eye of the series h and an eye ofthe series 9'. The hooks 2' and f project normally across the grooves q,or for a sufiicient distance within the grooves to bring them into thepath of the rods 19, which they are intended to engage between the edgesof the curtains and the end pieces 1). \Vhen the curtains are inposition as before described, the rod 1) of the first curtain of theseries or curtain being displayed is engaged from underneath by thehooks i while the rod 1) of the last curtain of the series is engagedfrom above by the hooks f.

The device is actuated to remove a curtain from the field of view andsupplant it by the next curtain in order, by a pull upon the cord 70, toswing down the crank D. This turns the shaft 1) and levers E, causingthe hooks on the ends of the latter, to swing to a disstance equal tothe length of a curtain, and carry with them the curtain from the fieldof view and bring it into the position of last in the series. The'lever1 being linked toward the free end of its long arm to the short arm ofthe lever E near the fulcrum of the latter, is given only aCOlllliHllZttlVGl) slight swing, and it is so gaged as to draw down thedog f a distance corresponding with the diameter of the end pieces 1).Thus with each complete swing of the lever E to draw the first curtainits full length the lever F is moved only a distance sufficient to causethe dogf to force the rest of the curtains ahead far enoughto move thecurtain next succeeding the first to the position left by the latter.\Vhen the cord 7t is released, the resilience of the spring I causes theshaft and levers to resume their normal positions, in doing which thecam-faces of the plungers 1' strike the rod 1) of the curtain in thefield of view, and, being retracted against their springs, plunge underthe rod to engage the latter with thenext manipulation. At the same timethe spring dogs f rise, and, springing over the rod 1) of the curtainwhich has just left the field of view, engage it as before described. I

Spring-catches 0, toward the front of the device and secured to the stay5 project into the path of the rods 19 just below the position of thefirst rod, and, without interfering with their upward movement, preventthe first rod from being forced with the rest of the series out ofposition by the plungers t as they spring over it. The spring-eatches calso operate to prevent the second curtain of the series from beingraised. by the friction against it of the first curtain in the movementof the latter. Spring-catches cl, secured toward the back of the deviceto the under sides of the guides r, and bent over the latter, as shown,project across the grooves q just above the position of the last rod 19,and prevent the latter from being raised by the spring-actuated dogs fin their backward movement. As the rods 0 travel outside the guides r,they are always outside the path of the rodsp. Thus in the movement of acurtain from the position of first to that of last in line it glidesover the deck 91. between the latter and the next preceding curtainwithout material resistance. The deck a prevents the curtains fromsagging, which would tend to interfere with the perfect working of thedevice by greatly increasing the frictional resistance olt'ered thecurtain, which is being independently moved from the field of view.

To prevent the rods 0 from being forced ahead by theindependentlyanoving curtain, or from crowding each other as thecurtains are drawn down across the back of the device,

they are held with slight pressure against the guides r byclampingstrips c and the clamping ends of guide-strips I). The strips 0are of spring metal, secured at one end to points 0', toward the upperforward part of the device, and they circle thence around the guides r,terminating at points near the bottom of the device, where springs cengage and press against them in the direction of their length, whichtends to draw them throughout their extent against the guides r. Thepressure which the strips 0 exert toward the guides r operates to retardmovement of the rods etc the necessary degree. The guide-strips b arefor the rods 0 to slide against as the curtains to which they areattached are moved from the field of view. The clamping ends I) of thestrips 1) press normally against the guides r and operate to hold therod 0 of the last curtain. Between the parts I) and the adjacent ends ofthe strips 0 are spaces a, which facilitate the insertion and extractionof the rods 0 when for any reason itis desired to replace any of thecurtains with others.

The lines of perforations 7i and g in the levers E and F, respectively,afford means whereby the throw of the dogs f may be accurately gaged toforce the curtains forward the desired distance, so by raising the linksG in the perforations g and lowering them in the perforations 72 thedogs f may be caused to force the curtains far enough forward to bringtwo or more curtains into positions to be moved at one time by thelevers E.

The object of the parallel grooves q is to afford together a cyclicguide for the rods, whereby the movement of the whole series of curtainsis recurrent. Instead of grooves, therefore, any other form of guidewhich would operate to hold the rods against displacement and permittheir being operated, as described, would be the equivalents of thegrooves q.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a display device, the combination of a cyclic guide and a seriesof curtains overlapping each other and mounted upon supports placed onein advance of the other in the said guide and independently movabletherein, whereby the curtains may be successively advanced into and outof the field of view, substantially as described.

2. In a display device, the combination of a cyclic guide, a series ofcurtains overlapping each other and mounted upon supports placed one inadvance of the other inthe said guide and independently movable therein,and mechanism,substantially as described, for engaging and advancing theforemost curtain, whereby the curtains are successively moved across thefield of view, substantially as set forth.

3. In a display device, the combination of a guide comprising twocorresponding opposing stationary cyclic ways, a series of curtainsoverlapping each other and mounted upon supports extending at theiropposite ends into the said ways and arranged one in advance of theother and independently movable in the guide, and mechanism,substantially as described, for engaging and advancing the foremostcurtain, whereby the curtains are successively moved across the field ofview, sub stantially as set forth,

4. In a display device, the combination of a cyclic guide, a series ofcurtains overlap ping each other and mounted upon supports placed one inadvance of the other in the said guide and independently movabletherein, mechanism, substantially as described, for engaging andadvancing the foremost curtain, and mechanism for simultaneously movingthe next succeeding curtain into the position vacated by the saidforemost curtain, sub stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5, In a display device, the combination of a guide comprising twocorresponding oppos ing stationary cyclic ways, a series of curtainsoverlapping each other and mounted upon rods 1), having end pieces 19'extending into the said ways, the rods being placed one in advance ofthe other and independently movable in the guide, and mechanism, substantially as described, for engaging and ad vancing the foremost rod,whereby the curtains are successively moved across the field of view,substantially as set forth.

6. In a display device, a series of curtains, each provided toward oneendwith a rod 19, having end pieces 1) movable in a cyclic guide, and arod 0 toward its opposite end movable in a plane outside the cyclicguide, and mechanism, substantially as described, for engaging the rodsp and moving the curtains successively into and out of the field ofview, substantially as set forth.

7. In a display device, the combination, with an inclosing-case having adisplay-face A, of end supports B, endless guideways q on the supports,a rock-shaft D, journaled toward opposite ends in the supports, a seriesof curtains upon rods 19, which are mounted toward opposite ends andmovable in the guideways q, and levers E on the rockshaft, provided attheir free ends with catches t", which project across and swing in thepath of the rods p, whereby, when the rock-shaft is actuated, thecatches t" will engage a rod 13 and move a curtain, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

8. In a display device, the combination, with an inelosingcase having adisplay-face A, of end supports B, guideways g on the supports, arock-shaft D, journaled in the supports, a series of curtains C, securedat one edge to rods 19, which are mounted toward opposite ends andmovable in the guide waysq, and secured at their opposite edges to rods0, movable outside the guideways q, and levers E on the rock-shaft,provided at their free ends with catches i, which project across andswing in the path of the rods 12, whereby, when the rock-shaft isactuated, the catches 1" will engage a rod 13 and move a curtain,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a display device, the combination, with an inclosing case having adisplay face A, of end supports B, guideways g on the supports, clampingstrips 0, extending part way around the guideways q, a rock-shaft D,journaled in the supports, a series of ourtains O, secured at one edgeto rods 19, which are mounted toward opposite ends and movable in theguideways 1, and secured at their opposite edges to rods 0, movablebetween the strips 0 and guideways q, and levers E on the rock-shaft,provided at their free edges with catches t, which project across andswing in the path of the rods 13, whereby, V

the shaft D, provided at their free ends with the field of View and thecatches f will adcatches t, levers F on the shaft F, carrying Vance therest of the curtains, substantially 10 catches f, the catches 1 and fall projecting as and for the purpose set forth.

across and swinging in the path of the rods rv V 4 T T T V, 5 p,audmechanism, substantially as described, COLBLI for actuating therock-shafts D and F siinul- In presence 013- taneously, whereby thecatches b' will en J. W. DYRENFORTH,

gage and move a curtain of the series from M. J. FROST.

